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Tuesday - January 21, 2014


From the School

THIS WEEK'S QUERY
What can we do as a community to affect world peace?
NOTES FROM SALLY
flu-tuesday letter.docxApprenticeship guidelines for Tuesday Letter.docxThis week’s assembly: Our MS assembly on Friday will be presented by Jason Gordon. Jason has been an educator and an entertainer since his school days when he attended an independent boarding school in northern New Hampshire and then went on to study anthropology at Yale University. While at Yale, Jason performed in plays and musicals, sang with the a capella group Shades, and toured over 25 countries with the world famous Whiffenpoofs. After graduating and spending several years as a semi-professional musician in New York City, Jason went back to independent schools where he held multiple teaching and administration roles at four different schools including Maret and Burgundy Farm. Currently, Jason directs a diversity and inclusion consulting and presentations company called Make The Reach, and he is excited to share his interpretation of Martin Luther King's vision of justice and equity with us on Friday.
Found in the Arts Center following the Thursday evening 5/6 concert: a gray wool hat and gloves and a blue wool scarf. Please contact the office if these belong to you.
Once again students in the Middle School participated in the National Geographic Geography Bee. Congratulations to our grade-level champs: 5th grade Nikhil Nelson, 6th grade Henry Fant, 7th grade Alex Lee, and 8th grade Anders Brodnax. Nikhil won the Middle School championship and will take the next step toward competition in the DC State Tournament. Congratulations!
Booklets for all students with Minimester options will be distributed this week. Important information about Apprenticeship Minimesters is in an attachment to this letter – please be sure to read this if your child is interested in an apprenticeship locally, out of town, or at Lower School.
Academic Technology Director Christine Stokes-Beverley submitted her resignation on January 15 to pursue personal goals. She will be with us through the end of the month to help the school deal with the transition of her departure. We thank Christine for her contribution to the Middle School, particularly for her impressive work on the improvement of the laptop program and her leadership on Digital Literacy with students and parents. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors. As details of the transition become available, we will send that information along.
8th grade parents: Please be sure that the Upper School curriculum night is on your calendars. This important presentation goes over the course selections that rising 9th graders will make as they move to the Upper School. The program will be held on Tuesday evening, February 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) School Transit Subsidy program is pleased to announce the ability of students to purchase student transit passes through the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) website using a debit or credit card. The WMATA website will allow the purchase of a monthly rail / bus pass, 10-trip rail passes and 10-trip bus pass at www.wmata.com. In order to purchase a transit pass on-line, District students must first register their DC One Card at www.dconecard.dc.gov and verify their eligibility for the program. Second, students must create a SmarTrip account through the WMATA website at www.wmata.com/fares/smartrip. For more information on DDOT’s School Transit Subsidy Program, please visit http://ddot.dc.gov/SchoolTransitSubsidy. Our SFS contact for the program is Jackie Morillas (morillasj@sidwell.edu).
With flu season upon us we ask that you please remember our sick policy and keep your child at home if they present with a fever above 100.5F and other symptoms that indicate the flu. Students cannot return to school until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Please report all absences to the Middle School office and leave specific information regarding their symptoms. This information assists the school in making appropriate decisions regarding the health of the school and its attendees. For more information, please see the attached letter from Nurse Jasmin Whitfield.
Read More


PA Announcements

PARENTS COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON - "COMMUNITY SERVICE: ITS PURPOSE, IMPACT, AND PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS"
Tuesday, January 28, 2014 (Snowdate February 4)
All SFS parents are welcome to attend the Parents Council of Washington (PCW) “Best Practices” program (http://www.parentscouncil.org/events/2014-pcw-best-practices) on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. Listen to a panel of service-based learning experts from three member schools as they share what Lower, Middle and Upper school communities are achieving and how students are growing personally, socially, academically and cognitively from community service programs. Many leaders in public service today mention the key role volunteering served to nurture, inspire and shape their lives. By learning that they can impact real social challenges, problems and needs, children gain ownership, find a voice and contribute in meaningful, productive ways.
PCW is a non-profit organization fostering communication among parents, students and schools within the greater Washington, D.C. independent school community. Please visit the PCW Website (http://www.parentscouncil.org/) or their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ParentsCouncilofWashington) for more information.
ARTRAGEOUS: THIS SUNDAY!
Sidwell Friends’ annual all-school, all-age arts festival is just days away!
When: Sunday, January 26, 1 – 4 p.m.
Where: Kogod Arts Center on the Upper School Campus
Please join us as we create Random Acts of Art, the theme of this year’s event. Paint a mural to music, produce your own animated movie, improvise a skit, let loose on the dance floor, spontaneously burst into song or chime in with other musicians! Whatever your preference, you will have lots of company as families head to the Upper School Arts Center for Artrageous 2014.
Enjoy performances throughout the afternoon by jazz musicians and a cappella groups, watch artists in action or snack on cookies, cupcakes and empanadas from our bake sale.
We still need parent volunteers! Please click on Artrageous 2014! Volunteer SignUp or contact Dana Lucas at dana.lucas@thempdgroup.com to help set up, assist with creations or clean up – no experience necessary! We’re also looking for experienced student artists to lend a hand. Interested in performing? There are a few slots left. Please email Sharon Nokes at snokes@capdale.com.
We have activities for every type of imagination!
Clay Studio: Sculpt clay with US teacher Hunt Prothro and MS teacher Rick Honn.
Stop Motion Animation: Tell a story in stop motion animation using an iPad and a variety of creative materials. Unleash your inner animator!
Community Mural: Create wall art to music with artist Cherif Mamadou.
Printmaking with LS Teacher Sabreena Ahmed
Hip Hop Studio: Dance randomly!
Randomals: Create random, fanciful animals out of wire, wood, beads, and feathers.
Randomobiles: Design your own 3-D mobiles – use a random assortment of shapes and materials to create a one-of-a kind spectacular piece!
Boxopolis: Build a village out of cardboard.
Valentines: Help the Quaker Life Committee make cheery greeting cards.
See you this Sunday!
COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
Toiletry Collection:
During the upcoming March 6 Middle School Service Day, 7th and 8th graders will sort toiletries to benefit A Wider Circle. There is a toiletry collection bin in the Middle School Lobby; please donate travel size items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, lotion and deodorant. For more information about A Wider Circle, please see http://www.awidercircle.org.
THE MS USED BOOK FAIR IS COMING!!
And… we need your help. Please send in “gently” used paperbacks and hardcover children’s (any age) books for our sale. All proceeds will be donated to a Washington, DC literacy organization. Your book donations may be dropped off at the Middle School Library or left at the Library door during non-Library hours. The MS Used Book Fair will be held at the Middle School on April 20 and April 22-25. Thanks for your support.
QUAKER QUOTES
“We have inherited a big house, a great “world house” in which we have to live together – black and white, Easterners and Westerners, Gentiles and Jews, Catholics and Protestants, Moslem and Hindu, a family unduly separated in ideas, culture, and interests who, because we can never again live without each other, must learn, somehow, in this one big world, to live with each other. This means that more and more our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. We must now give an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in our individual societies.” Martin Luther King, Jr. - from his Nobel Peace prize acceptance speech.
Read more about Martin Luther King and his connection to Quaker visionary Bayard Rustin and Quakerism in Peter Toscano's blog "Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Gay Quaker:
"Bayard Rustin is one of the most important figures of the 20th century. A Quaker, an African-American and openly gay, he served as an architect and inspiration for the direction of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's. In fact, he was already writing about racial equality and non-violence as early as 1942 in his article The Negro and Non-Violence." from Peterson Toscano's blog post “Martin Luther King, Jr. & the Gay Quaker”
link to blog: http://a_musing.blogspot.com/2008/07/martin-luther-king-jr-gay-quaker.html


Other News

LINEN DRIVE -- RUNNING UNTIL SPRING BREAK
Got old bed linens, towels, comforters or blankets that you’re ready to toss? Please send them to Middle School ASAP with your nearest and dearest. Usable bed linens, blankets and comforters will find an immediate home at A Wider Circle. Shabby fleece blankets and towels will head to our furry friends at Washington Animal Rescue League. Our “Paws and Claws” Minimester group can use even badly tattered blankets in March to make toys for the cuties in cages. Collection bins are inside the M.S. lobby and in the 5th grade hallway. Contact Susanne Saunders or Lauren Lamb if you have questions.
EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
AUCTION DONATION DEADLINE IS ONLY 10 DAYS AWAY!
This is a friendly reminder that the auction donation deadline is only 10 days away! We hope you will consider making a donation whether it be an experience, gift certificate or tangible item. Please view our wishlist for inspiration and keep in mind that we welcome your donation ideas as well! All sponsorships and donations are due January 30, 2014. Donations can be made online by clicking here. Please contact Jessie Jacobson, Director of Special Events at jacobsonj@sidwell.edu with any questions. Please remember that 100% of the net auction proceeds benefit financial aid at Sidwell Friends School. Thank you for your help.
SAVE YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING BAGS AND MOVING BOXES FOR NEXT-TO-NEW!
The Next-to-New Sale chairs are always looking for great ways to "Reuse, Renew, and Recycle" and even though our annual sale just took place in October, we're already organizing for next year. You can help by dropping your extra shopping bags and moving boxes into the large boxes located just inside the front door of the Lower and Middle Schools and just inside the front door near the Dean’s Office of the Upper School now through Friday, February 14. We need department store bags, paper grocery bags, plastic bags with handles, reusable cloth bags, Ikea bags, etc. - we'll take any undamaged shopping bags with handles. We also need large, study, undamaged moving boxes. For more Information contact Jessie Jacobson, Director of Special Events at jacobsonj@sidwell.edu.
UPCOMING BOOK CLUB AND LECTURE SERIES: “A LITERARY APPROACH TO DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP” and “THE PRINCE”
Please join us for our next two upcoming Book Club and Lecture Series discussions. The cost to attend is $30/ticket or $50/couple. All books are available for purchase at a 20% discount at Politics and Prose. Just say you’re in the SFS Book Club and Lecture Series at the cashier station. To learn more about our spring discussions, click here.
On January 30, 2014 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., please join LS Librarian Angela Smith for a fun discussion on digital citizenship. She will be discussing the books, The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, and Feed by MT Anderson. The event will be hosted at the home of Sarah and Chris Meyers. Please encourage your friends to join and be sure to register online today!
On February 11, 2014 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., please join MS History Teacher Richard Lesczynski for a lively discussion of The Prince by Niccolo Mavchiavelli. The event will be hosted in the home of Lisa and Murry Gunty. Please encourage your friends to join and be sure to register online today!
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES CAMP FAIR
January 25, 2014 2-4:30 p.m.
The Sidwell Friends School Upper School (cafeteria)
Come meet over night camp and teen program representatives and get free advice from Tips on Trips and Camps consultants. We are a free advisory service that represents over 500 summer programs in the US and abroad: Traditional camps; specialty camps; language immersion; community service; academics and enrichment; adventure and wilderness. www.TipsonTripsandCamps.com.
MS NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
How to Submit an Article to Tuesday Letter: Please send submissions, in the body of the email, to PA.MSNewsletter@sidwell.edu by 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Please reference "Newsletter Submission" and the publish date(s) in the subject line. Do not include any formatting such as indents, bullets, boldface or all-caps and keep submissions succinct. If you have a form or flyer to include with your submission, send it as a PDF attachment. Receipt of your submissions will be confirmed as soon as possible. Submissions may not run for more than three weeks.
How to Modify an existing Submission: Please send a redline or otherwise clearly indicate the change to be made in a second email.
School Calendar: Calendar entries that appear in the right column of each Newsletter are automatically generated by the school, not by the Tuesday newsletter editors. Any changes to the school calendar are made through the school scheduling office at scheduling@sidwell.edu.


The Parents Association newsletters are a forum for communication among parents and provide announcements concerning School or PA events or information related to a School or PA event.
MS newsletter submissions should be sent to PA.MSnewsletter@sidwell.edu.


Calendar


Tue, Jan 21st

LS No School - Report Writing Day


Wed, Jan 22nd

HoS Search Consultants Open Meeting with Parents

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
8:00am - 9:00am


Thu, Jan 23rd

PA Arts Committee

US Library Board Rm
7:00pm - 9:30pm


Fri, Jan 24th

6th Gr. Hangout

US Dining Rm
3:30pm - 5:00pm


Sun, Jan 26th

Artrageous 2014

Art classrooms, Kogod Arts Center, Robert L. Smith Meeting Rm
1:00pm - 4:00pm


Sat, Feb 1st

BSU Show - Rehearsal

AC Theater
12:00pm - 6:00pm


Sun, Feb 2nd

BSU Show Rehearsal

Rosenberg Theater
12:00pm - 6:00pm


Mon, Feb 3rd

MS PA Steering Committee Meeting

Rusch Team Rm
8:00am - 9:00am


Tue, Feb 4th

5th Grade Conversation With Sally

Dining Room
7:45am - 9:00am


8th Grade Parent Curriculum Night

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
7:00pm


Thu, Feb 6th

PA Executive Committee


PA Executive Committee Meeting

Rusch Team Room
8:00am - 9:30am


Fri, Feb 7th

6th Grade Conversation With Sally

Dining Room
7:45am - 9:00am


MS 7/8 Dance

US Dining Room
7:30pm - 10:00pm


7th Gr. Parent Peer Group Meeting

MS Library
8:00pm - 9:30pm


8th Gr. Parent Peer Group Mtg

Zartman Drawing Rm
8:00pm - 9:30pm


Sat, Feb 8th

BSU Show Rehearsal

AC Theater
12:00pm - 6:00pm


Sun, Feb 9th

BSU Show Rehearsal

AC Theater
12:00pm - 6:00pm


More


Athletics


Tue, Jan 21st

Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:30pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School


6:00pm


Wed, Jan 22nd

Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Holton-Arms


4:15pm


Wrestling - Varsity vs. Bullis


5:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Holton-Arms


5:45pm


Thu, Jan 23rd

Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. St. Andrew's School


2:45pm


Wrestling - 7/8 vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Flint Hill


4:30pm


Squash - P.E. Class (Co-Ed) at Potomac School


4:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Championships - Diving


5:00pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Flint Hill


6:00pm


Fri, Jan 24th

Wrestling - Varsity vs. MAC Tournament


10:30am


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Championships - Swimming Events


3:15pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Bullis


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman at Landon


4:15pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Bullis


5:45pm


Sat, Jan 25th

Swimming - Boys 7/8 vs. MS Championships


9:00am


Swimming - Girls 7/8 vs. MS Championships


9:00am


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Maret School


2:00pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Maret School


2:00pm


Mon, Jan 27th

Basketball - Boys 7/8 B at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Landon


4:30pm


Tue, Jan 28th

Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Squash - P.E. Class (Co-Ed) vs. National Cathedral School


4:00pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at National Cathedral School


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman at Wilson H.S.


4:30pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


5:45pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at National Cathedral School


5:45pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Potomac and Flint Hill


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. Potomac and Flint Hill


7:30pm


Wed, Jan 29th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 A at Maret School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Wrestling - 7/8 at Bullis


2:45pm


Wrestling - Varsity vs. Wilson H.S.


5:00pm


Thu, Jan 30th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at Bullis


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Swimming - Boys 7/8 vs. Coed Meet


2:45pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 vs. Coed Meet


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Visitation


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at St. Andrew's School


4:30pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Field School


4:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Georgetown Visitation


5:45pm


Fri, Jan 31st

Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Championships Diving


3:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Championships Diving


3:30pm


Squash - P.E. Class (Co-Ed) vs. Madeira


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at St. Andrew's School


4:30pm


Wrestling - Varsity vs. Tri: Benedictine and JP Great


4:30pm


Sat, Feb 1st

Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - WMPSSDL Championships


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - WMPSSDL Championships


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


12:00pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


12:00pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. McKinley Tech


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Pope Paul VI


2:45pm


Mon, Feb 3rd

Swimming - Boys 7/8 vs. Coed Meet


2:30pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 vs. Coed Meet


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Wrestling - 7/8 vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Tue, Feb 4th

Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Potomac School


4:15pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:15pm


Wrestling - Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


5:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


5:45pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at Potomac School


6:00pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


7:30pm


Wed, Feb 5th

Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - METROS


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - METROS


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Landon


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Landon


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C at Landon


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Wrestling - 7/8 at Landon


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Takoma Academy


4:30pm


Thu, Feb 6th

Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - METROS


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - METROS


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Woodbridge


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. St. Andrew's School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Stone Ridge School


4:15pm


Squash - P.E. Class (Co-Ed) at Madeira


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Wilson H.S.


4:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Stone Ridge School


5:45pm


Fri, Feb 7th

Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - METROS


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - METROS


Wrestling - Varsity - St. Alban's Tournament


2/8/2014


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Holy Child


4:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Holy Child


5:45pm


Sat, Feb 8th

Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - METROS


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - METROS


More


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